SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 849

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 8, 2020

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 849.

      As reported, this bill requires the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (chief administrator), in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner), the Superintendent of the Division of State Police within the Department of Law and Public Safety, and at least one organization that advocates on behalf of persons who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, to design and make available blue envelopes that may be utilized by a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

     Under the bill, the blue envelopes are required to: (1) be of a color shade easily recognizable to law enforcement officers; (2) be capable of holding a person’s driver’s license, motor vehicle registration card, and insurance identification card; (3) provide written information on the outside of the envelope identifying the envelope holder as a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder; and (4) provide written guidance to assist law enforcement officers in effectively communicating with a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

     The bill also requires that the chief administrator, in consultation with the commissioner, establish the documentation required to be produced by a person who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, or by the parent, guardian, or caregiver of the person, in order to receive an envelope.

     This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.